Don't Panic! Everything's Fine On Planet Griffin!

The Welshpool Bunker. Earlier today (Artist's Impression)

The BNP is on her deathbed. A few Mourners sit around in the darkened bedroom weeping silently while others, downstairs in the kitchen, discuss the state of the Old Girl's finances and who's going to get what when the estate gets divvied up.

The Priest has delivered the last rites and she's asleep now: A Doctor checks the pulse from time to time to see if She's still with us.

But wait! Something's wrong!

She's still Tweeting! And all is well! She's FINE!!

Have a look:

October 18th.

News reaches us at L.U that the Party is, in effect, insolvent. Jim Dowson's astonishing letter offering Creditors 20p in the Pound to settle up is published.

This, in itself, would be enough to finally proclaim to the World that the Jig Is Up, and the BNP have now ceased to function in any meaningful capacity.

Over on Nick Griffin's Twitter Account, however...

“When I think back to the bewilderment when we started I see how far we've come in a year.”

He helpfully adds;

“All votes for tomorrow worked out in good time. The team is really effective now.”

Phew! That's alright, then: The mere fact that the Party has no money and is reduced to desperately touting an insulting last-ditch offer around its own Suppliers might, dare one say, worry a lesser man. Nick, however, is made of sterner stuff, and can obviously see The Big Picture denied to we lesser mortals.

Two days later the Party make the National News, with the not-entirely-mystifying revelation that the Derbyshire Police Service would quite like to know just where they're planning on holding their 2010 Conference in December (which, displaying a keen grasp of satire I'd long thought beyond the BNP is subtitled “Moving Forward Together”. Presumably in the same way as lemmings are said to “Move Forward Together” in times of famine).

Quite understandably, Superintendent Gary Parkin would like to have a bit of notice of the Event in order to tell several hundred of his Bobbies where to go and stand; his years of Exemplary Service having given him the insight that several hundred of us will be planning on turning out to yell at the Delegates.

Nick Griffin MEP takes the matter in hand and cuts right to the heart of the Vexed Issue:

“Walking round German vineyard on phone gone 1 a.m. Working out admin systems with Nat Organiser.” A couple of minutes later he adds “Actually rather surreal. A very strange life. Good night to all BNP late birds.”

There's Cool for you: This man's Upper Lip must be so rigid you could hammer nails into seasoned Oak with it.

Onto the 22nd. From out of nowhere (well, actually from out of The Guardian's Jobs website – with a few words changed) appears a job vacancy on the BNP's Site.

Specifically, it's Jim Dowson's job. Suddenly vacant.

The specification states that the successful Candidate will be charged with raising £4 Million over the next three years. Not an issue, apparently, as the current Incumbent has been (it says here) raising £1.5 Million a year anyway...

But what of Dowson? Pray tell, Nick, what of the Good Reverend?

Here, the mask slips. Unable to ignore so momentous a piece of news as his Great Industry Expert – the Clyde to his Bonnie, one might say – leaving the Party, Nick can barely keep his moby dry from the tears as he Tweets of Dowson's “sad” decision not to renew his contract;

“All in all a remarkable man to whom we owe a great deal and who remains a good friend and true patriot.”

Of course, this isn't all that's occurred over the past week: The BNP have also “lost” (or mislaid?) Communications Director Paul Golding, three more Councillors, and have handed several vital Party functions over to Patrick Harrington (a Leader of rival organisation the National Liberal Party) and dim-bulb Party Enforcer Clive Jefferson.

The BNP Leadership have also been lambasted by ex-stalwart Nick Cass, embarrassed (if such a thing is possible – such a thing could easily be an alien concept within the Party) by Jim “The Bruce” Dowson's bizarre rants and infantile, scatological taunts on various Far-Right Talkboards and, only this evening, we hear that the BNP have been locked out of their own Nerve Centre – the Belfast office owned by (surprise, surprise...) one J Dowson, esq. Who's changed the locks.

“All in all a remarkable man to whom we owe a great deal and who remains a good friend and true patriot.”

Griffin, on all these matters, has been silent since Friday.

Interestingly, Paul “Green Arrow” Morris has also remained quiet on his beloved BNP's Demise until now. Only tonight has he finally broken his silence - if only to attack one of the Councillors who has resigned. In the grubby, confused little mind of Morris it being, of course, a far greater crime to resign over the Party's woeful treatment of its Creditors than to continue to fleece Suppliers, Members and Anyone Else Who Happens To Be Passing At The Time And Looks Gullible Enough. Go on, Kinsman: Show 'em the Black Flag.

(One of Morris' Followers adds in the Comments - displaying a level of optimism sure to melt even the stoniest of hearts - "The BNP will continue to grow =)".)

I look forward to reading Griffin's next Tweet.

It'll probably tell me how great everything is for the BNP.

Or maybe how nice Croatia is at this time of year.

Corsham councillor quits BNP

A longstanding British National Party activist in Corsham, Wiltshire, has quit the fascist party over its failure to pay its creditors, accusing it of committing a possibly criminal act.

Michael Simpkins, who was first elected unopposed to Corsham Town Council in 2007, is the third councillor the party has lost this month.

Announcing his resignation from the party, Simpkins, who works as a self-employed taxi driver, declared: “I am disappointed to hear that The British National Party is not paying its bills. I know from personal experience of two local printers who had to wait six months for payment and that was only after a lot of badgering to Head Office by myself and other officials to get them paid.”

Earlier this month Jim Dowson, who has himself just abandoned his role as the party’s fundraising and management consultant, wrote to the many businesses waiting for payment from the BNP, offering 20p in the pound “by way of debt compromise and in full and final payment of all your outstanding invoices relating to the supply of goods and services” to the party. If they did not accept the offer, explained Dowson, they would “inevitably … end up with nothing at all”.

An outraged Simpkins said: “These are businesses like the two mentioned before that risked all doing business with the BNP and supplied the goods or services on trust that they would be paid. More importantly they will undoubtedly be British businesses, the kind of business we claim to support and encourage.

“These businesses may well suffer financial hardship because the BNP has dried up their cash flow and their families will go without. They may even go out of business and certainly won’t do business with us again. It is not the way I do business.

“As an honourable businessman I cannot stay with any organisation that puts other businessmen out of business or their families in financial hardship. More importantly it is a breach of trust and may even be criminal if the intent to pay was never there in the first place.”

Simpkins, who remained loyal to the BNP leader Nick Griffin through the recent splits, says he will continue to serve on Corsham Town Council until the end of his current term in 2013 and reconsider his options then.

Last week it was reported that Meirion Bowen, a Llandybie community councillor, had left the party in the interests of his family, employment and personal safety. Yesterday it emerged that Paul Golding, a district councillor in Sevenoaks and the party’s communications officer, had quit after a fallout with other senior party staff.

Sonia Gable at HOPE not hate

Black Farmer gets on his high horse over BNP hustings row

Wilfred Emmanuel Jones refuses to share a platform with the racist BNP

The West’s most prominent black would-be MP has refused to share a debating stage with his rival from the British National Party, to avoid race becoming an issue at the election.

Wilfred Emmanuel Jones told the organisers of tonight’s (FRI) hustings event in Bradford-on-Avon he would boycott the event if the far-right BNP candidate Michael Simpkins was allowed to take part. So the organisers of the event, the Bradford-on-Avon Senior Citizens Forum, decided they would rather have Wilfred than the BNP and barred the BNP man.

Mr Emmanuel Jones, who runs a food-producing business called The Black Farmer, is standing for the Conservatives in the new Chippenham seat, which promises to be a key marginal battle between the Tories and the Lib Dems.

Mr Simpkins is one of the handful of BNP councillors in the West – his ‘election’ to Corsham town council after no one stood against him in a by-election sparked a major demonstration by anti-racism campaigners and locals.

Hustings organiser Alan Knight, from Bradford’s Senior Citizens Forum, told Mr Simpkins that every other candidate had agreed to take part in the debate if the BNP were included, except Mr Emmanuel Jones. Mr Simpkins, whose party doctrine claims to describe the Birmingham-born businessman as ‘not British’, blasted Mr Emmanuel Jones as ‘a coward’.

“I am very disappointed with the outcome but thank the committee and other candidates for at least being prepared to allow me to join in the debate,” said Mr Simpkins.

“Emmanuel Jones claims to be proud to be British but has yet to learn the British sense of fair play. The man is a coward and is obviously scared to debate the real issues that are affecting this country,” he added.

Chippenham’s Liberal Democrat candidate Duncan Hames said the BNP’s policies were ‘disgusting’ but that he wanted the opportunity to ‘demolish’ them.

“I’m not afraid of the BNP and would relish the opportunity to confront them and demolish their arguments,” he said.

“None of us like the BNP and find much of what they say disgusting but it is important that our own feelings do not deny the public the chance to question the candidates,” he added.

A spokeswoman for the local Tory association backed their candidate’s refusal to take part if the “intolerant and racist” BNP were also involved.

“The Chippenham Conservative Association has a clear position that it does not wish to give legitimacy to a political party which promotes intolerant and racist views that to most people in Wiltshire, including ourselves, are unacceptable,” she said.

“Wilfred is quite prepared to debate with the mainstream parties and answer questions from local residents which he will do,” she added.

Mr Emmanuel-Jones surprised shoppers on Chippenham High Street by riding through the town centre on a shire horse. He was out on the streets answering locals’ questions about the proposed development at Bird’s Marsh - an area of woodland north of the town which could be earmarked for hundreds of new homes. Frankie the shire horse has previously been used for children’s horse rides to raise funds for local charities.

South West Business

Voters turn out in force to reject BNP

Corsham voters turned out in force to keep British National Party candidate Michael Howson out of the town council.

Liberal Democrat candidate Isabel Langsford, 51, won Thursday's by-election, called after the resignation of Coun Jasvir Singh.

Town council chairman Allan Bosley was delighted with the 43 per cent turnout. He said: "People have turned out because they realise it is their duty to take part in the electoral process and the effort that the candidates put into canvassing also helped."

Mr Bosley said the turnout was the result of the wake up call given to voters last year when BNP representative Michael Simpkins won a town council seat as the only candidate standing for the Rudloe ward. He added: "I think there were so many people turning out this year because they wanted to see their favourite candidate in the Corsham seat. There were eight candidates this year, which made more people vote."

Mr Howson was voted into fifth place with 119 votes.

Mrs Langsford, 51, who works part-time at a dental practice in the town, said she was amazed to find that she had won the seat. She said: "I was so tired when I found out the results but I was really pleased. I still can't believe it, it's like a dream." The mother-of-three was campaigning with her team of ten Liberal Democrats supporters at 6am on the morning of the elections. They posted leaflets to all 3,864 electors in the Corsham ward.

Mrs Langsford, who lives in Winsley, near Bradford on Avon, said she is passionate about Corsham because of its wealth of small business. Supporting the town's traders will be one of her priorities. She said: "I think the town is fantastic because it is one of few places that has still got local stores like the butchers and fruit and vegetable shops that bring people into the town."

She also vowed to campaign against The Porch Surgery's plan to move to Rudloe.

She has a busy year ahead with her council work, a third grandchild due next month and a degree course in archaeology due to start in October. She said: "I am looking forward to just taking on board all of the things I need to know as a councillor. Working part-time and starting my degree in October gives me a chance to get on board with the council."

Gazette and Herald

Pub bans BNP's Michael Simpkins

Pub landlord Mark Foster has refused to serve BNP councillor Michael Simpkins amid fears that his presence would upset regulars.

Mark Foster, landlord of the Hare and Hounds in Pickwick, confirmed he refused to allow the controversial Corsham town councillor to hold a party at the pub last night. The councillor is now demanding fellow BNP supporters boycott the pub, claiming that he has been discriminated against because of his political beliefs. However, Mr Foster has defended his decision to refuse the booking, which marked the university graduation of Coun Simpkins' future daughter-in-law.

Mr Foster, 33, said: "As a pub we can reserve the right to serve anyone we choose. During the local election there was a great strength of feeling surrounding Mr Simpkins and I felt that his presence would stir up a debate at the pub and that would unsettle our regular customers. We weren't prepared to let that happen."

Coun Simpkins was told he was not welcome in the Hare and Hounds after a family member went into the pub on Monday to confirm the booking. Mr Foster said the family member has asked whether Coun Simpkins' presence at the pub would be a problem.

He said: "I told her that we would be uncomfortable and Coun Simpkins would not be welcome."

A furious Coun Simpkins said: "This brings to question whether a public house should start to ban people not for what they say or do, but for what they think. Should pub goers now have to declare their political allegiances on entering?"

But Mr Foster strongly denies claims he has issued a blanket-ban to BNP supporters - but merely reserves the right not to serve Coun Simpkins.

He said: "I have not banned the BNP as a party, in fact many of our regulars are BNP members and supporters and have been good customers here. The reason we decided not to serve Coun Simpkins is not purely because of his political beliefs but because of the atmosphere we believed it may create in the pub."

BNP chairman for Wiltshire Mike Howson said: "This is discrimination of the lowest kind and this act should be treated with contempt. We are urging all of our voters and those who continue to support us to boycott this establishment."

Wiltshire Gazette and Herald

BNP's Simpkins to fight Parliamentary seat

The British National Party has announced its intention to put forward a Parliamentary candidate in Wiltshire - and has launched a bitter, personal attack on a black politician.

BNP Corsham town councillor Michael Simpkins has issued a public statement in which he lashes out at Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, the Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidate for the new Chippenham constituency.

Cllr Simpkins, who was appointed to the town council last month after nobody stood against him, also announced that he has been shortlisted by his party to contest the Chippenham seat, which covers Corsham. He is angry that Mr Emmanuel-Jones, who is popularly known as the Black Farmer and has starred in his own reality television series, joined more than 300 people who earlier this month gathered outside Corsham Town Hall to protest against the BNP.

Speaking at that protest, Mr Emmanuel-Jones said: "This isn't a racist town and they are all shocked that this guy got in by default. Everything that the BNP stands for is really not in synch with modern society and it's dangerous."

In a statement this week Cllr Simpkins, who works as a local taxi driver, criticised Conservative policies in general. Then he added: "I also find it rather hypocritical that the Tories' Wilfred Emmanuel- Jones should take it upon himself to come to my town in support of those who infer that I am a racist, a town in which he does not even live."

Mr Emmanuel-Jones was not available for comment, but a Conservative Party spokesman said: "It is a shame the BNP has resorted once more to delivering these type of base-level, inaccurate and unfounded remarks instead of concentrating on the key issues affecting residents, such as the crisis affecting the NHS and the rise in violent crime."

The BNP has repeatedly denied being a racist party. At the recent protest Cllr Simpkins said that "you couldn't find a more non- racist person than me".

The Bath Chronicle

Town vents its fury at BNP councillor

Hundreds of protesters lined the streets of Corsham tonight to vent their anger at recently elected BNP councillor Michael Simpkins as he arrived for a town council meeting. Men, women and children travelled from across the south west to take part in the anti-facist rally outide Corsham Town Hall.

Residents were outraged when Coun Simpkins managed to gain a seat on the town council - after standing unopposed in last month's elections.

More than 300 ant-facist campaigners packed the streets waving banners and balloons and blowing whistles. In a small pen on the opposite side of the road about 25 BNP supporters gathered in support of Coun Simpkins. A dozen police officers were also on patrol to keep the factions apart. Local businesses stepped in to offer free food, drink and white roses to the protesters.

Coun Simpkins arrived for the meeting just after 7pm to a rapturous applause from his group of supporters and a deafening roar of "out facist, out" from those opposed to his political views. They brandished placards reading "Stop the facist BNP", "No facists here" and "Neo facist no". Among the groups protesting were Respect, the Bristol branch of the National Union of Teachers and Defend The Asylum Seekers Campaign.

Helen Kaye, one of the protest organisers, who lives in Corsham, vowed to introduce a host of multicultural events to show the town is a tolerant place. She said: "I was absolutely horrified when I realised Corsham had a BNP councillor. He slipped in througn the back door and we must warn other towns before it is too late."

Corsham builder Andrew King, 21, turned up in support of Coun Simpkins. He said: "I voted BNP because I am fed up with immigrants coming over here and taking our jobs. I'm glad there's finally someone here to represent us."

Coun Simpkins, in his speech to his supporters, said: "Anyone who actually knows me will tell you, you couldn't find a more non-racist person than me. The BNP forced the elections in Corsham - that is democracy."

He added: "Being tolerant also means sometimes having to tolerate intolerance."

The event passed off without any arrests.

Gazette and Herald

BNP councillor addresses crowd

Jeers and whistles greeted the arrival of controversial BNP councillor Michael Simpkins at Corsham Town Hall this evening.

Arriving for a town council meeting at 7.30pm, Mr Simpkins, who was elected unopposed in the Box and Rudloe ward, spoke to a crowd of more than 250 anti-BNP protesters. Despite using a loud hailer, Mr Simpkins was drowned out by the noise of protesters using drums, jeers and whistles. But while tensions continued to run high, a major pollice presence prevented any violence from erupting.

Standing outside the town hall, he said that white English people had become "strangers in their own country". He also defended his position on the town council saying he had been voted in by a process of democracy. And he accused the crowd of BNP opponents of "just feeding lies, fears and intimidation".

Wiltshire Times

BNP councillor is facing a backlash

Hundreds of protesters are tonight expected to ratchet up pressure on the West's first and only BNP local councillor. Taxi driver Michael Simpkins won his seat on Corsham town council in Wiltshire last month when no one stood against him. But after the unopposed election the picturesque town has become a cauldron of rows, threats and demonstrations.

The 21-year-old local man leading today's demonstration said he has become the victim of threats - while BNP supporters in the town have complained that Mr Simpkins was elected democratically and the demonstration is being orchestrated by anti-BNP campaigners and union leaders from Bristol and London.

Hundreds of protesters could arrive outside Corsham Town Hall this evening, two hours before the second full council meeting since Cllr Simpkins won his seat. A smaller demo before the first meeting passed off peacefully.

Kyle Thornhill, 21, said: "I'm from Corsham and I'm proud of the fact this is a multi-cultural country. My grandfather was from Barbados but I'm a local. I couldn't believe it when I heard this man won his seat because he was unopposed. We want him either to stand down or have a proper election to see if people support his views or not. It makes me a bit ashamed to be from Corsham if we're the first place in the West to have a BNP councillor. His views are racist and his party is racist - they won't allow people from ethnic minorities join their party, which is blatant racist discrimination," he added.

Mr Thornhill said he has received threats and intimidation for his part in organising the demo, which is also being promoted by anti-BNP groups such as Searchlight and the TUC. Other local councillors who are opposed to the BNP said they too had received threats, but added that hundreds of people in the town supported Mr Thornhill's stance.

Labour district councillor Christine Reid pointed out that three other BNP councillors had to fight elections in the town - and all lost.

But the BNP's presence in Corsham has been growing steadily in recent years. Last year, Cllr Simpkins made headlines after he took his teenage son out of the town's secondary school in protest at his opposition to the school teaching about Islam in the RE curriculum. There was more controversy when the town's cadet troop leader was revealed as a BNP member, and then the party began night-time patrols of the town - claiming it had been asked to by residents and shopkeepers worried at the rise in anti-social behaviour and under-age drinking from some of the town's youth. The patrols, and similar ones in nearby Calne, were slammed by the police as "unacceptable vigilanteism".

Cllr Simpkins yesterday dismissed Mr Thornhill as a "silly young man", and said the protests were being orchestrated by anti-BNP figures from cities like Bristol - many of the protesters would not be locals, he said. "With or without the protest I am going to treat the meeting as normal."

Western Daily Press

Join the protest - Say no to the BNP Corsham

Meet at Corsham Town Hall
Monday 11th June at 5.30pm

Come along to protest at the division, ignorance and intolerance of the fascist BNP.
Come along to celebrate unity, diversity and understanding.

Unite Against Facism is supporting a protest called against BNP councillor Michael Simpkins. We would like to ensure that the anti racist and anti fascist majority attend to this important protest.

Weyman Bennett , National Joint Secretary, UAF will be attending and speaking. The response from local residents to the election of this BNP councillor unopposed has been one of anger and united rejection of racism and fascism. The protest publicity and food on the day is being provided by local businesses. There will be musicians etc. performing and regional and local newspapers, television and radio will be covering the event- it will be a great opportunity to show united opposition to the fascist BNP.

We want to encourage as many people as possible to attend the protest, bring family , friends and Union branch banners are welcome.

Michael Simpkins is the first BNP councillor in the South West. Lets make sure he is the last and help to make Corsham and the South West Fascist Free!

Contact for further details and with messages notobnp@hotmail.co.uk. or telephone the National UAF office on 020 78334916.

Corsham anti-BNP protest planned

Anti-BNP protesters will be taking to the streets of Corsham to show their disgust at a member of the far-right party claiming a seat on the town council. A rally and protest has been organised for Monday, June 11, after BNP Cllr Michael Simpkins took the Rudloe ward uncontested at the recent elections. He made his first appearance at Corsham Town Council last week and was greeted by protesters outside the town hall.

Now one local campaigner is organising a much bigger event to show what he says is the "strong anti-fascist feeling" in Corsham.

Kyle Thornhill, 21, who has lived in Corsham all his life, has had leaflets and posters printed to publicise the event, and is calling on everyone in Corsham and the surrounding area who objects to BNP involvement in the town to get involved.

He said: "Myself, like a lot of local people, did not get to hear that this BNP candidate was standing until it was too late to do anything about it, because if we had I would have stood against him to stop them getting in. Although there was the protest last week, again not enough people heard about it until too late, so what we are doing is organising a protest, letting plenty of people know about it and giving them plenty of time. The response I've had from all the people I've met has been overwhelmingly positive, with the only negative comments coming from BNP people via websites."

Mr Thornhill, whose great grandfather came from Barbados, says the rally will also celebrate Britain's multi-culturalism. African drummers are expected to attend and there will be a host of foreign cuisines on offer.

"The vast majority of people in Corsham do not want the BNP here, and it has been inspiring to hear the comments from all the people I've spoken to," said Mr Thornhill. "I'm sure there will be a very big turnout."

The protest starts at 5.30pm. For more information email notobnp@ hotmail.co.uk

Rudloe Air Cadet leader and Corsham BNP chairman Mike Howson has rubbished claims that he intends to resign his position as a youth mentor. He said: "I will not be standing down. My work as a youth leader and my political views remain completely separate. Those with leftist views are using every trick in the book to try to get me removed, which is sad as it is only the youngsters who suffer."

This is Wiltshire

BNP man joins council amid angry protest

Crowds gathered outside Corsham Town Hall last night to protest against BNP councillor Michael Simpkins taking up his rightful seat on the parish committee.

Residents clutching photos of black relatives and trade union members bearing banners shouted anti-BNP chants when Mr Simpkins arrived for the first full council meeting since the election.

Flanked by his close protection team, four BNP members dressed in black, the Rudloe councillor walked briskly through the protesters shouting something incomprehensible and disappeared into the council chamber. The chants of "Bad for you, bad for me, stop the racist BNP" followed him inside and the councillors around the table fell silent until the voices stopped.

As police officers outside looked on and the BNP bodyguards lingered inside the door, there was a clear and identifiable moment of stillness and reflection before chairman Allan Bosley called the meeting to a start.

Corsham residents Steph Cleverley, her 21-year-old son Kyle and their friend Gillian Fleming, came to protest against Mr Simpkins, who took his seat unopposed without winning any votes.

Mrs Fleming said: "Lots of people in Corsham think the way we feel but are afraid of the BNP. Everyone in this country is entitled to an opinion, including the BNP. We have lived here a long time and there has never been any problems. We have all lived together side by side in relative peace and I do not see why the BNP seeks to create divisions and hostility based upon a person's ethnicity."

Mrs Cleverley's grandfather Reginald Seymour Thornhill was one of the first generation of black people to move to Britain. She said: "We are proud of our history and heritage but simultaneously proud of our local community and place in the community of Corsham."

Mr Simpkins plans to work hard on the town council and represent the views of the people in his ward. He said: "There was no sense of animosity from my fellow councillors. The protesters were mainly from Bristol and they have a right to protest but why didn't they stand against me in the election? I was accompanied by a close protection team because there have been incidents in the past of lefties attacking BNP members in the street."

Asked whom he represented, Mr Simpkins said: "The BNP is a party for indigenous British people. Black, Asian, Chinese, Aborigine, Maori and Eskimo people cannot join."

Tim Lezard, who organised the protest, said: "Nobody voted for Mr Simpkins and therefore he does not represent anyone in Corsham. Local people have to stand up against fascists."

Gazette and Herald